The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has handed out strict bans and heavy fines to Senegal and Morocco following chaotic scenes during the AFCON 2025 final on January 18. Protests, a brief walk-off, pitch invasions, and clashes with officials pushed CAF to act, sidelining key figures from future tournaments.
These punishments apply only to CAF competitions, but the fallout could impact squad depth and leadership in upcoming qualifiers.
Senegal Player Suspensions: What Went Wrong
Senegal faced the harsher penalties after CAF concluded that officials and players played a central role in escalating the chaos.
- Head coach Pape Thiaw received the toughest punishment for allegedly orchestrating a pitch protest.
- Two senior players were also banned for misconduct during the final moments of the match.
Morocco Player Suspensions: Captain Among Those Punished
Morocco avoided mass bans but still saw disciplinary action against key names.
- Captain Achraf Hakimi was penalised for unsportsmanlike conduct.
- Ismael Saibari received a multi-match ban and fine for serious violations during the disruption.
AFCON 2025 Suspensions at a Glance
| Team | Name | Role | Punishment | Reason |
| Senegal | Pape Thiaw | Head Coach | 5-match ban + $100,000 fine | Orchestrating pitch protest |
| Senegal | Ilim Ndi | Player | 2-match ban | Misconduct during final |
| Senegal | Ismaila Sarr | Player | 2-match ban | Involvement in chaos |
| Morocco | Achraf Hakimi | Captain | 2-match ban (1 suspended) | Unsportsmanlike conduct |
| Morocco | Ismael Saibari | Player | 3-match ban + $100,000 fine | CAF rule violations |
What CAF Said About the Incident
CAF described the AFCON final scenes as damaging to the image of African football, stressing that protests, walk-offs, and pitch invasions would not be tolerated at marquee events.
Summary
With AFCON qualifiers and continental tournaments ahead, these suspensions could reshape team strategies, especially for Senegal, who lose both leadership and on-field experience.
FAQs
1. Do these bans affect World Cup qualifiers or club football?
No. The suspensions apply only to CAF competitions, including AFCON and continental qualifiers.
2. Can Senegal or Morocco appeal the decisions?
CAF rules allow appeals, but no official reversals have been announced so far.
3. Are more players likely to be punished?
CAF confirmed this is the final list of major sanctions. Minor yellow-card penalties will be handled by national federations.
